What Are Men Afraid Of?

Men Admit Their Biggest Fears - Can You Relate?

Men are notoriously slow to open up and express themselves, especially if they think doing so will make them appear weak or vulnerable. So we went to Reddit, where under the cover of anonymity men were asked what truly terrifies them. The answers are enlightening.

A Bad Death

The end is inevitable — that much is out of our hands — but there's a big difference between dying comfortably and a long, protracted death, especially if your loved ones have to watch you suffer. Which leads us to...

Being A Burden

This one is somewhat heartbreaking, but it's a common fear among men, who are used to relying on only themselves throughout life. It's also worth noting how many men define themselves by what they can give or provide — the loss of that is often tantamount to a loss of identity.

Fatherhood

It's very likely that being a father will be the most important role you ever take on, and the knowledge that a human life depends entirely on you is definitely a source of anxiety for many men. Aside from the difficulties of providing for a family in a troubled economy, there's the small matter of, you know, raising a happy, healthy child — that alone is enough to keep most guys up at night.

The Candiru Fish

You may not have heard of the Candiru fish, but it's the stuff of nightmares, mostly because there's a lingering rumor that these little suckers will actually swim up your urethra (your "pee hole"), requiring a painful extraction.

Failure To Make Good On Your Promise

This one hits home for a lot of guys. We all have a tendency to define our self-worth by our achievements, some superficial — the house we live in, the car we drive — and others necessary components of our identity — what we do for a living, how we contribute to the world. What are we without these things?

Accidental Pregnancy

Once you've done the deed, the rest is entirely out of your hands, and if she wants to keep it, you have no say in the matter. That means fatherhood and financial responsibility, whether you wanted it or not.

Losing Your Loved One

Being alone sucks, but finding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with is the polar opposite: confirmation that you are loved, and the chance to return that love and build a life with someone you care about. So it makes sense that one of men's greatest fears would spring directly from one of our greatest joys. Hold your loved ones closely, people; be grateful that you have them and never take them for granted.